This work develops a thorough review of bioimpedance systems for healthcare applications. The basis and fundamentals of bioimpedance measurements are described covering issues ranging from the hardware diagrams to the configurations and designs of the electrodes and from the mathematical models that describe the frequency behavior of the bioimpedance to the sources of noise and artifacts. Bioimpedance applications such as body composition assessment, impedance cardiography (ICG), transthoracic impedance pneumography, electrical impedance tomography (EIT), and skin conductance are described and analyzed. A breakdown of recent advances and future challenges of bioimpedance is also performed, addressing topics such as transducers for biosensors and Lab-on-Chip technology, measurements in implantable systems, characterization of new parameters and substances, and novel bioimpedance applications.

One of the main objectives of research into intrabody communication (IBC) is the characterization of the human body as a transmission medium for electrical signals. However, such characterization is strongly influenced by the conditions under which the experiments are performed. In addition, the outcomes reported in the literature vary according to the measurement method used, frequently making comparisons among them unfeasible. Further studies are still required in order to establish a methodology for IBC characterization and design. In this paper, both galvanic and capacitive coupling setups have been implemented and a comprehensive set of measurements has been carried out by analyzing fundamental IBC parameters such as optimum frequency range, maximum channel length, and type of electrodes, among others. Consequently, practical conclusions regarding the experimental conditions that optimize IBC performance for each coupling technique have been obtained.

Modeling of intrabody communication (IBC) entails the understanding of the interaction between electromagnetic fields and living tissues. At the same time, an accurate model can provide practical hints toward the deployment of an efficient and secure communication channel for body sensor networks. In the literature, two main IBC coupling techniques have been proposed: galvanic and capacitive coupling. Nevertheless, models that are able to emulate both coupling approaches have not been reported so far. In this paper, a simple model based on a distributed parameter structure with the flexibility to adapt to both galvanic and capacitive coupling has been proposed. In addition, experimental results for both coupling methods were acquired by means of two harmonized measurement setups. The model simulations have been subsequently compared with the experimental data, not only to show their validity but also to revise the practical frequency operation range for both techniques. Finally, the model, along with the experimental results, has also allowed us to provide some practical rules to optimally tackle IBC design.

In this paper, a first approach to the design of a portable device for non-contact monitoring of respiratory rate by capacitive sensing is presented. The sensing system is integrated into a smart vest for an untethered, low-cost and comfortable breathing monitoring of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients during the rest period between respiratory rehabilitation exercises at home. To provide an extensible solution to the remote monitoring using this sensor and other devices, the design and preliminary development of an e-Health platform based on the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) paradigm is also presented. In order to validate the proposed solution, two quasi-experimental studies have been developed, comparing the estimations with respect to the golden standard. In a first study with healthy subjects, the mean value of the respiratory rate error, the standard deviation of the error and the correlation coefficient were 0.01 breaths per minute (bpm), 0.97 bpm and 0.995 (p < 0.00001), respectively. In a second study with COPD patients, the values were −0.14 bpm, 0.28 bpm and 0.9988 (p < 0.0000001), respectively. The results for the rest period show the technical and functional feasibility of the prototype and serve as a preliminary validation of the device for respiratory rate monitoring of patients with COPD.

Non-oncologic chronic pain is a common high-morbidity impairment worldwide and acknowledged as a condition with significant incidence on quality of life. Pain intensity is largely perceived as a subjective experience, what makes challenging its objective measurement. However, the physiological traces of pain make possible its correlation with vital signs, such as heart rate variability, skin conductance, electromyogram, etc., or health performance metrics derived from daily activity monitoring or facial expressions, which can be acquired with diverse sensor technologies and multisensory approaches. As the assessment and management of pain are essential issues for a wide range of clinical disorders and treatments, this paper reviews different sensor-based approaches applied to the objective evaluation of non-oncological chronic pain. The space of available technologies and resources aimed at pain assessment represent a diversified set of alternatives that can be exploited to address the multidimensional nature of pain.

Galvanic coupling in intrabody communication (IBC) is a technique that couples low-power and low-frequency voltages and currents into the human body, which acts as a transmission medium, and thus constitutes a promising approach in the design of personal health devices. Despite important advances being made during recent years, the investigation of relevant galvanic IBC parameters, including the influence of human tissues and different electrode configurations, still requires further research efforts. The objective of this work is to disclose knowledge into IBC galvanic coupling transmission mechanisms by using a realistic 3-D finite element model of the human arm. Unlike other computational models for IBC, we have modeled the differential configuration of the galvanic coupling as a four-port network in order to analyze the electric field distribution and current density through different tissues. This has allowed us to provide an insight into signal transmission paths through the human body, showing them to be considerably dependent on variables such as frequency and inter-electrode distance. In addition, other important variables, for example bioimpedance and pathloss, have also been analyzed. Finally, experimental measurements were also carried out for the sake of validation, demonstrating the reliability of the model to emulate in general forms some of the behaviors observed in practice.